Dispenser



Aug. 16, 1927. 1,639,415

s. J. PoPLAw-sKl DISPENSERv Filed June 28. 1924 ashun-sheet 6 Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATE 1,639,415 NT OFFICE.

STEPHEN J. POPLAWSKI, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE ARNOLD ELEC- TRIC COMPANY, 0F RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0F WISCONSIN.

DISPENSER.

Application led June 28,

My invention relates to dispensers and has a number of objects and advantages in view.

The dispenser of my invention has. as one of its characteristics, the provision of a closure for the discharge opening in the container so combined with a measuring and discharging clement within the container as to uncover the discharge opening as the discharging element places a pocket therein, which contains the material to be discharged, at said opening. The cover is then restored to cover the emptied pocket. The closure and the emptied pocket therein thus prevent the access of moisture to the container through the discharge opening, an important advantage in dispensers of maltcd milk or other substances that are highly hygroscopic and therefore apt to pack, when moistcned.

Inaccordance with another characteristic y ofthe invention, the closure for the discharge element is movable in an opening direction by mechanism including an actuating clement in register with the'opening, whereby the closure may be opened b`y a receptacle placed beneath the opening to receive matter passed through the opening.

In the perferrcd embodiment of the inventionthe measuring element is in the form of a wheel having teeth which define a succession of pockets communicable in sequence with the discharge opening, the mechanism that operates the closure being'adapted to move it in opening and closing directions that are alternate and to move the wheel in a uniform direction in proper timed relation with the movements of the closure. My invention also comprises the provision of a guard plate adapted to be supported'by c'o-operating shoulders on the container and byextending loosely about the upper end of the shaft. the guard plate being located above the discharge opening so as to prevent access of the materialwithnfwthe container vito the fdischarging pocket.

The dispenser also includes one or more vibrating or movable bla-des adjacent the ma.- terial being discharged and means for vsetting' these blades into vibration as the material is being discharged so that no portion of the measured quantity undergoing discharge will -remain. These vibrating blades preferably constitute the side walls of the measuring ckets.l The means for setting the blades into vibration preferably resides in 'toothed blocks which are at the radial sides of the 1924. Serial No. 722,998.

bodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of 'the device in the region of the measuring wheel, the casing portion surrounding the wheel being removed; Fig. 3 is a view in partial cross-section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view in partial crosssection on line 4 4 of Fig. 5 showing abottom view of the ratchet mechanism; Fig. 5 is al sectional View on line 5 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a part of the device showing the casing 23 with the associated levers 22 and 26, the balance of the mechanism being removed; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing changed positions of parts of the mechanism; Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating some of the cooperating parts in separated relation.

The upright cylindrical container 1 has a discharge opening 2 in its bottom wall 3. This opening has a closure in the form of an arcuate spring plate 4 carried on the exterior' of the container upon an arm 5 which is in the form of a leaf spring and constitutes the termination of an angular lever 6 mounted to turn upon an upright shaft 7 which is coaxial with the container.4 By mechanism to be described, the closure 4 is moved in alternate directions to open and close the discharge opening. The spring arm 5 serves to press the spring plate against the margins of the discharge opening to hermetically seal the opening. The closure has an vextension 8 which is curled upon the rounded edge of the container bottom.

,A fiat measuring wheel-i9 is formed with teeth 1'0 which define a circular succession of pockets 11 adapted to be successively laced in register with the discharge openmg. This wheel is within the container andv turns upon the bottom wall thereof, the teeth ends closely approaching the c lindrical wall of the container in order t at the quantities in the ockets may be accurately measured in con]unct'ion wlth a levelling arcuate plate 12 carried by and within the container above and in register with the discharge opening and pressing upon the top of the wheel. This plate constitutes a closure for the receiving end of the particular pocket 11 that is placed in register with the discharge opening, and is of limited extent to permit communication between the remaining pockets and the interior of the container in order that they may be filled. The blades 10 also agitate the material within the container, a function which is supplemented by the agitator bar 13 mounted to turn with the wheel. This bar is continued upon both sides of the shaft, each half being,r spirally twisted to constitute two twisted blades to improve its operation. The plate 12 is supported at its outer edge by a projection 12' on the plate 12 which is adapted to be received in notch 12g upon the wall 3 and the plate 12 also has an aperture 12 at its inner end adapted to receive the projecting shaft on the upper side of the measuring wheel 9. The cylindrical portion 1 that is above the wheel rests upon the shoulder 12" and holds the lug' 122 in the notch.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the shaft 7 is turned in a uniform direction and is connected with the wheel to turn it in a like direction. The shaft has a head i4 fixed thereon and received in a recess in the bottom of the wheel, and upon this head there is a pin 16 received in the bottom of the wheel to couple the wheel and shaft. Mechanism is employed to rotate the wheel step by step, each movement of the wheel withdrawing the pocket last emptied from the discharge opening andplacing an ensuing and filled pocket in register` with this opening. This step by step mechanism includes a ratchet wheel 17 secured upon the lower end of the shaft 7. This ratchet wheel 17 is turned step by step to turn the measuring wheel step by step by means of the actuating pawl 18 carried by the lever 6. The pawl, in turn, is actuated by an arm 19 carried thereby and having a socket 20 receiving the ball 21 upon the lever 22 which is pivoted upon and within the hollow .supporting base 23 for the container. The lever 22 has an arm 24 carrying a roller 25 engaging the back of the arm 26 pivoted at its upper end upon Athe base and below and normally inregister with the discharge opening 2.v Then the shaker or other receptaele which is to receive a measured quantity of material from the container is placed below and in register with the discharge opening 2, the arm 26 is moved thereby to operate the lever 22 and advance a filled pocket into register with the discharge opening in plaeeof the pocket last emptied. During this movement of the wheel, the closure 4 is moved from beneath the discharge opening 2 in the same direction in which the wheel is moved, since this-closure is carried by the lever 6 as previously de scribed. lVhen the receptacle is moved away from the discharge opening the arm 26 is released to permitthe spring 27 to move the arm'G in an opposite direction to its initial or idle position. As a result of this restoring movement of arm (5 the closure 4 is moved in a reverse direction again to close the discharge opening and to bring the pawl 18 into engagement with a fresh tooth upon the ratchet wheel 17 preparatory to a repetition of the described cyclo of operations.

Appreciable momentum is imparted to the measuring wheel. To prevent this momentum from carrying the wheel beyond a single step of movement, I provide a detaining toothed wheel 28 upon the shaft 7. The holding dog 29 is pressed toward this wheel by a springr 30. This spring maintains an extension 31 of the dog in contact with the lever 6. Then this vlever is turned to uncover the discharge opening the spring 8O causes the dog 29 to follow the movement of the lever and to place the dog in register with the next tooth upon the holding wheel 28. The teeth upon the wheels 17 and 28 are similar in number and position so that when the opening movement of the closure 4 has been effected, the wheel 28 will engage the dog 29 to limit the movement ofthe measuring wheel to a single step. In the restoring movement of lthe closure to its closed position, the lever 6 will move the dog 29 away from the wheel 28 so that the measuring wheel may again be moved a step. The teeth 10 are desirably in the form of thin blades of steel that are set into the body of the measuring wheel. Toothed blocks 32 are placed in the container above the radial sides of the discharge opening and in the lZone of the measuring wheel. The teeth of these blocks project slighly inside of the circle of rotation of the outer ends of the blades so that the blades are set into vibration or jarred after they come above and leave the discharge opening, whereby material which would otherwise tend to remain upon the blades and other portions of the pocket beingr emptied is dislodged by the vibration thereof. The blades impact upon the teeth that follow the teeth they escape to jar material loose.

In addition to the advantages of my invention which have been set forth and which are apparent, it will be observed that no hand need touch the vmaterial issuing from the dispenser. Y

Changes may be made without departing from my invention.

Having thus described claim:

1. In a dispenser', a container having an aperture in its lower side, said aperture beingbounded by a flat seating surface, measuring and discharging mechanism Vin said container including a rotatable memmy invention, I

ber having vibratable partitions, a sliding closure resiliently pressed against said seating surface and common means to actuate said measuring mechanism and said closure.`

2. In a dispenser, a containei' having an aperture in its lower side, said aperture being bounded by a Hat seating surface, measuringr and discharging mechanism in said container including a rotatable meniber having vibratable partitions, a sliding closure resiliently-pressed against said seating surface and common means to actuate said measuring mechanism and said closure, and guide means for said sliding closure to hold the same in position to slide upon said seating surface. i

3. In a dispenser, a container having an aperture in its lower side, said aperture being bounded by a fiat seating surface, measuring and discharging mechanism in said container having a shaft extending therefrom, said measuring mechanism including a rotatable member having a plurality of resilient blades, a lever rotatively mounted on said shaft to actuate said measuring mechanism step by step, and a sliding closure i'esiliently mounted on said lever to close said aperture.

4. In a dispenser, a container having an aperture iii its lower side, saidv aperture being bounded by a flat seating surface, measuring and discharging mechanism in said container, including a rotatable wheel having a plurality7 of resilient blades adapted to align with said aperture, an actuating shaft for said mechanism extending from said container and a ratchet wheel on said shaft to actuate said mechanism, a lever rotatively mounted on said shaft, a sliding closure resiliently supported bysaid leverl and a pawl on said lever for actuating said ratchet and spring means biasing sait clos'- ure to closed position.

5. In a dispenser, al containei' having an aperture in its lower side, a measuring an discharging'mechanism comprising a rotating element having a plurality of resilient projecting partitions, and means co.oper at ing with said partitions to place in vibration partitions adjacent both sides of said aperture during discharge.

6. In a dispenser, acontainerhaving an aperture in its lower side, measuring and discharging mechanism insaid container comprisinga plurality of resilient partitions, and means for placing certain of said resilient artitions in vibration to effect complete disc iarge of the material adjacent said partitions.

7. In a dispenser, a container having an a erture in its lower side, measuring and dischargingy mechanism in said container comprising a rotating element having a plurality of resilient projecting partitions,

means for actuatlng said rotating element to Vsuccessive positions over said aperture, and a plurality of obstructions over which said resilientl partitions snap to place them in vibration when adjacent said aperture.

Y @In a dispenser, the combination cuiuprising a container having a flat bottom and an aperture therein, a shaft journalled in said bottom, a rotating measuring element having a plurality of projecting partitions fitting against said bottom, means for actuating said measuring element to successive positions where said partitions align with said aperture, and means for placing one of said partitions in vibration when adj acont said aperture.

9. In a dispenser, the combination coinprising a container having aflat bottom and an aperture therein', a shaft journalled in said bottom, a rotating measuring element having a plurality of projecting partitions fitting against said bottom, means for actuating said measuring element to successive positions where said partitions align with said aperture., means for placing said parlitions in vibration when adjacent said aperture, and means for levelling the charge between said partitions and separating said charge from the balance of the material in said container.

10.` In a dispenser, a container having an aperture in its bottom, a shaft journalled in said bottom, measuring and discharging mechanism in said container actuated by said shaft, ratchet mechanism on said shaft to actuate the same step by step, said measuring and discharging mechanism including a. plurality of resilient blades and means for placing one of said blades in vibration when adjacent said aperture, and means actuated by a container placed beneath said aperture to actuate said ratchet mechanism.

11. In a dispenser, the combination of a container having a dispensing aperture, a measuring and discharging device in said container, having a, plurality of resilient artitions movable past said aperture, means or placing a resilient partition in vibration when it reaches a position adjacent said aperture, la shield for preventing access of material in said container to parts of said device above said aperture, step' by step mechanism for bringing said artitions successively into registry witbfsaid aperture to discharge material, and an external sliding closure for said aperture actuated to open position by said mechanism.

12. In a dispenser, the combination of a container having a flat bottom, with a shaft journaled in said bottom, said container having a discharging aperture in said bottom, a measuring wheel mounted on said shaft, and a plurality of resilient blades on said wheel, said blades being adapted to register with sides of said opening.l

13., In a, dispenser, the combination of a liu) lill

container having a flat bottom, with a shaft journaled in said bottom, said container having a discharging aperture in said bottom, a measuring Wheel mounted on Said shaft, a plurality of resilient blades on said wheel, said blades being adapted to register with sides of said opening, a lever carried by said shaft` and a sliding closure for said aperture resiliently mounted on said lever.

11. In a dispenser, the combination of a container having a flat bottom, with a shaft journaled in said bottom, said container having a discharging aperture in said bottom, a measuring wheel mounted on said shaft, a plurality of resilient blades on said Wheel, said blades being adapted to register with sides of said opening, and a plurality of obstructions over which said blades slide to place said blades in vibration.

15. In a dispenser, the combination of a container having a flat bottom, with a shaft journaled in said bottom, said container having a discharging aperture in said bottom, a measuring Wheel mounted on said shaft, a

plurality of resilient blades Von said Wheel,

said blades being adapted to register withv sides of said opening, a plurality of obstructions over which said blades slide to place said blades in vibration, and a shield supported by said container and said shaft for covering said aperture above said blades.

16. In a dispenser, the combination of a container having a flat bottom, with a shaftjournaled in said bottom, said container having a discharging aperture in said bottom, a measuring wheel Vmounted on said shaft, a plurality of resilient blades ou said wheel, said blades being adapted to register with sides of said opening, a. plurality of obstructions over which said blades slide to place said blades in vibration, step by step mechanism for actuating said shaft, and means actuated by placing a receptacle under said aperture for actuating said step by step mechanism.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

STEPHEN J. POPLAWSKI. 

